I am at a bit of loss for words this morning. Of all the topics I had lined up for discourse, none jumped out as a delectable portion of wordsmithing.
And if I am using such a word, I think its best I focus on the R&R of farm life for a change.
What has caught me off guard, is exactly how busy managing a farm can become. It starts early morning taking the dogs out for their ablutions.
Simply because inhouse accidents will interfere with that first cup of coffee, and one cannot have that!
There is no life without water because water is needed to make coffee.
Then there is getting the house in order before staff arrive for the daily taking stock meeting, after which everyone disperses to attend to their allocated tasks.
Before you know it, its lunch, and you had forgotten to take something out the freezer. Luckily, new hobby number 1 comes in handy here. Sourdough baking.
Creativity in the kitchen is probably my favourite R&R activity. Not only have I finally gotten the art of sourdough bread down to a T (excluding the “open crumb 
) , but I have also discovered great recipe’s that use the sourdough discard. Lunch therefore often becomes a “savoury sourdough discard crumpet,” as there is always bits and bobs in the fridge that can be used in a flavourful light lunch.
Discard also makes the best crackers, which will do in a pinch for lunch with all manner of toppings. Especially the creamiest Labneh (Lebanese cream cheese, which I make from goats’ milk).
I can rarely sit still, so R&R will include some sort of creative pursuit, be it crochet (working on a stained-glass window effect for a bed spread here), knitting (with a treasured inheritance, thank you Marthana) or producing marketable product while listening to an audio book.
I mostly listen to sci-fi. And be warned here. Confusing Star Wars with Star Trek is a transgression akin to interrupting the first cup of coffee for the day.
An enjoyable R&R activity is taking a drive to visit all our livestock, even if you are “gater.”
On the occasion that I do sit still, it is to savour the sand between my toes. Nothing beats a basic lunch out in the veld. Quick braai a “vlam worsie” and ponder the horizon and everything in between.
And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the wind longs to play with your hair.
Khalil Gibran
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